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Transforming Growth Factor-Beta

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Encyclopedia of Cancer

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Definition

Transforming growth factors were identified on the basis of their ability to induce soft agar growth and morphological changes in nonmalignant cells. The original observation was of an activity, which was named sarcoma growth factor. Soon afterward the term transforming growth factor, TGF, was adopted. Sarcoma growth factor was subsequently found to be composed of an epidermal growth factor like protein, which was named transforming growth factor alpha, TGF-α, and of TGF-β. TGF-α is a member of the epidermal growth factor family, and is unrelated to TGF-β. Targeting of TGF-β activity by LTBPs (binding proteins) and different mechanisms of activation from the latent forms is a crucial feature in its biology.

Characteristics

TGF-βs are multifunctional polypeptide growth factors involved in the regulation of cellular growth and differentiation and immune functions. The number of known members of this family is rapidly increasing and stands at more than 40 different...

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pathology and of Virology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, 00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Jorma Keski-Oja

Authors
  1. Jorma Keski-Oja
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jorma Keski-Oja .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University Professor of Genetics, German Cancer Research Center - DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany

    Manfred Schwab

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© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Keski-Oja, J. (2011). Transforming Growth Factor-Beta. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-16483-5_5916

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